A scientific conference and a Nature Watch Festival in China’s Yushu Prefecture, in the heart of the country’s snow leopard habitat, highlight the region’s rich biodiversity and community-based conservation efforts.

Charu Mishra, The Snow Leopard Trust’s Science & Conservation Director, shares a powerful and personal story about how his early experiences in India’s Spiti Valley have shaped his views on wildlife conservation in partnership with local communities.

Livestock kills by snow leopards are a part of everyday life for many herder communities in Asia’s mountains. The financial impact on these families can be devastating, and retaliation against the cat is commonplace. But the Snow Leopard Trust’s innovative, community-run livestock insurance program is breaking this vicious cycle.